Ding Dong! Hello! I’d like to tell you about The Book Of Mormon… because you simply have to see the musical while it’s at His Majesty’s in Aberdeen.
Outrageously funny, completely ridiculous, but also full of heart, the award-winning show – which fully deserves all the praise it’s been getting ever since its 2011 Broadway premiere – will quite literally have you at ‘Hello!’.
The Book of Mormon follows two young missionaries – enthusiastic go-getter Kevin Price and socially-awkward but well-meaning Arnold Cunningham – who are sent to Uganda to try to convert its citizens to the Mormon religion.
But as soon as they arrive, the Latter-day Saints missionaries realise their task might be a lot more difficult than anticipated as the villagers have to deal with more pressing issues such as AIDS, poverty and violence – something they explain during the show’s fourth musical number which really sets the scene for the rest of the show.
The Book of Mormon thrills Aberdeen audiences
Not surprisingly, The Book of Mormon contains many religious themes, including those of faith and doubt. When things don’t go Elder Price’s way, other Mormon missionaries come to the rescue to reveal that suppressing one’s feelings is a “nifty little Mormon trick” in one of the show’s many hilarious musical numbers.
Robert Colvin’s performance of “I Believe” when his character Elder Price tries to re-affirm his Mormon faith is just as powerful as it is funny.
But my personal highlight of the show was when he imagined what hell would be like in “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream”. That utterly ridiculous performance could only be described as the perfect amount of too much – you won’t believe who makes an appearance in the missionary’s dream.
Conner Peirson’s Elder Cunningham kept constantly stealing the show and his unique take on the Mormon religion provided some of the musical’s biggest laughs, with his Scotland-specific joke receiving a massive roar of applause and approval from the HMT audience.
But it was Aviva Tulley’s Nabulungi who delivered the most impressive vocals. While she may not make it to “Sal Tlay Ka Siti”, she definitely has what it takes to shine on Broadway or West End.
Outrageously funny, completely ridiculous, but also full of heart
The show was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone – who are also behind the animated sitcom South Park – and American songwriter Robert Lopez who co-wrote Frozen’s Let It Go with his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez.
The combination of cartoonish South Park-like characters with clever lyrics and catchy tunes works splendidly – the original Broadway show was awarded nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
But to say The Book Of Mormon’s language is fruity would be a broad understatement – it’s not for those easily offended by swear words and sexually explicit comments.
And while the show undoubtedly uses the mockability of the Mormons to its full advantage, the musical is so much more than just jokes about the religion.
As one of the show’s creators, Matt Stone, said, laughter really does break down your defences. Even though the musical may have started by poking fun at the religion’s unorthodox beliefs, once the audience was warmed up, The Book Of Mormon hit them with a powerful story about friendship, hope and what really matters.
And since more than 17 million people had already seen the show, it’s safe to say The Book Of Mormon’s story keeps on spreading – just like the faith that inspired it in the first place.
Don’t miss The Book of Mormon while it’s at His Majesty’s Theatre until Saturday June 4. Click here if you wish to purchase tickets.